The club celebrated its first senior premiership in 34 years with a convincing 11.12 (78) to 5.9 (39) win over Coleambally on Saturday, easing the pain of back-to-back defeats in the last two grand finals.  

The match was signed, if not sealed, in the first quarter when the decision to replace injured defender Brenton Roberts with X-factor forward James Hodges paid dividends.

And it was delivered in the closing minutes in fitting style when spiritual leader Brocke Argus and then actual leader Ben Absolum, who was named best-on-ground, closed out the 39-point win. 

“Look around and see all these people that haven’t had a premiership for 34 years – it’s relief and happiness – and to get rid of that chokers tag,” forward Marc Geppert said as the Hawks melted into emotional celebrations in the middle of the ground. 

The Hodges and Geppert partnership worked beautifully for EWK as their classy midfielders started like lightning on a Robertson Oval surface which managed to soak up 50mm of rain in 24 hours before the game.

Both forwards had a goal each before the ball had gone inside Coleambally’s forward 50 and Hodges kicked three by quarter-time, at which point he was about to introduce himself to his third opponent.

A 26-point lead was out to 44 points midway through the second quarter before the first of the game’s two melees, when Coleambally’s Todd Clark tackled Sam Armstrong just after he’d taken a grab. 

The Hawks got a 50m free but the Blues kicked the only two goals before half-time to peg the margin back to 32.

The game turned sour in a dour third quarter with one goal (Hodges’ fourth) outnumbered by yellow cards and reports. EWK’s Zac Robinson and James Creasy and Coleambally pair Josh Hamilton and Brandon Mathews were sent off and all but Mathews were reported for striking.

The Blues threatened briefly when they kicked the only two goals of the 16-a-side period but eventually those familiar Gumly names, Argus and Absolum, gave their teammates – and coach – licence to breathe.

“It was a nice way to finish, it was sort of in the balance,” Gavin McMahon said.

“It wasn’t the greatest game but at the end of the day it doesn’t have to be, you’ve got to be in front at the end.”

McMahon paid tribute to his players who barely faltered all season on the road to redemption.

“They were amazing, I’ve got so much admiration for the group,” he said.

“They’ve copped their knocks over the journey and they could’ve folded, or they could’ve frayed and a couple of them could’ve moved away but they didn’t, they came together tighter and it was outstanding for them.”

Full-time

EAST WAGGA-K  5.5  8.6  9.9  11.12 (78)

COLEAMBALLY   1.3  3.4  3.7  5.9 (39)

Goals: (EWK) J Hodges 4, M Geppert 3, B Mearns, L Cuthbert, B Argus, B Absolum; (Coleambally) D Pound 2, S Light, N Jones, M Carroll.

Best: (EWK) J Hodges, N Baggio, B Absolum, S. Brierty, C. Gordon, M. Geppert; (Coleambally) S Light, B Jones, C Pound, J Hamilton, M Carroll, D Kenna. 

Nitschke-Schmidt Medallist: Ben Absolum

Gate: $24,102